A day centre that desperately needed to refurbish its kitchen so it could continue providing food for its visitors has been able to complete the work after a donation from the Bucks Freemasons.

The Flackwell Heath and Loudwater Age UK Day Centre, which provides lunch and activities for the over 60s, needed to update its kitchen to meet new regulations but despite raising some money through quizzes, open days and coffee mornings, could not raise the full amount on their tight budget.

Still short of their target, regular volunteer helper and driver at the Centre, Ross Hailstone, suggested contacting the Bucks Masonic Centenary Fund (BMCF) to ask if it would donate towards the cost.

Mr Hailstone, a member of St. Lawrence Lodge of Freemasons, contacted the BMCF, who then donated £1,000 to cover the cost of an industrial freezer.

Jacky Retallack-Hall, the Centre Manager said: “We are absolutely delighted by this generous donation by Buckinghamshire Freemasons and, along with our new cooker, work surfaces and storage areas, we now have a modern and efficient kitchen for our staff to prepare the meals for our visitors each day.”